That one simple touch released a flood of relief. Tears fell down my cheeks. My cut stung anew, but I ignored it and took a deep breath.
“She only said one word to me. ‘Protect.’”
Yarina’s face crumpled, and her grip tightened. “Are you sure?”
I nodded, my throat too tight to speak.
Yarina let out a sob and pressed a gentle kiss to her sister’s forehead. Turning back to me, she wiped her eyes and her nose on the back of her sleeve.
“It was the last thing our mother, and then our father, said to us before death took them. It’s the word we always say to each other before we part ways. It encompasses what my parents used to say to us: ‘Protect your clan. Protect each other. And our souls will be together forever.’”
My heart pounded. Davka had told me her family’s parting word. Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with gratitude that I’d been there to hear it. To pass it along to her remaining family. Even if they hated me for why she died, I was glad I could do that one small thing.
I’m trying to help you find some gods-damned peace.
Aiden’s words echoed in my skull. Is this what he meant when he wanted to tell me of the night Mother died?
Yarina squeezed my hands, bringing me out of my thoughts. “Thank you for being with her,” she whispered. She withdrew her hand to place it on Davka’s still chest. “You protected us all to the end, Davka. You kept your honor. May the gods find your soul and bring it to Mother’s and Father’s.”
I bowed my head, sending up my own silent prayer for Davka.
A loud cry rose from the north. I fixed my gaze on the glowing mountain.
Holy Four, I hope the reinforcements find Aiden before Renwell does.
Chapter 15
Aiden
We couldn’t defeatthe ship.
It was too far out in the river, and a swarm of Shadow-Wolves stood on the pebbled beach between us.
Our force—a mix of Yargoths, Urzosts, and Teachers—had half the numbers but double the fury. We were holding our own with splintered weapons and bloodied fists. But the Wolves wouldn’t break. And the ship never ceased flinging those gods-damned burning barrels. We frequently had to scatter to avoid catching fire.
The screams of the dying, human and animal alike, frayed the edges of my sanity.
Most riders had abandoned their horses by choice or by force. During the village fight, I’d slapped Wicked’s rump and sent him charging away from the bloodshed. I only hoped he stayed out of sight.
Jek shouted at the few archers we had left to aim for the ship’s sails and the sailors loading the catapults.
“How many of these fucking bastards did Renwell buy?” Maz shouted as he cut down a Wolf with his axe.
Blood flowed from a wound on Maz’s arm, and his teeth were crimson as he bared them at his next target.
I grunted, favoring my left leg as I dodged another barrel. I wasn’t losing too much blood, but I hated fighting on a weak leg.
Because you got distracted. Because of Kiera.
I growled, tearing my thoughts away from her. I clashed with a Wolf carrying a sunstone sword and knocked him into Maz’s waiting arms. Maz snapped his neck, and we moved on to another.
There was always another.
“Barrel!” Maz shouted and shoved me hard to the right while he dove left.
Heat seared the backs of my legs as I stumbled away from the small, fiery crater.
A shadow teased the corner of my eye. I glanced up to see a hooded man in a long black cloak striding for the ship. Not a Wolf, but certainly an enemy.
